Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1887-10-14


three years ago at the bidding of this same
sentiment. Growing rapidly, it presented
a civil service reform bill in the Senate in
lSS1-a bill to which Mr. Blaine was as hos
tile as to the patriotic and sagacious efforts
Of President Grant. No bill ever presented
in Congress required more moral courage,
or more independence of partisan dctation
for its hearty support, than this bill. Among
the Republican members of the Senate who
it were Senators Edmunds, Haw-
ley, Allison, Dawes, Hoar and Harrison
Though not on the committee to whom the
bill was referred, Senator Allison gave it
his steady and effective support, and it was
on his motion that by far the most useful
was made to it in the Senate.
During the period Of my duties as civil
service commissioner-alike under PreSi-
dent Cleveland and under President Ar
thur found Senator Allison always ready
to give prompt and efficient support to the
execution of the law and the same might
be said of Senators Hawley Dawes, Hoar
and some others But it was Senator Allison,
as chairman of the appropriation committee
of the Senate, as chairman of the sub-com-
mittee having charge of the special appro-
priation for the commission. and especially
AS chairman of the conference committees
on the subject between the two Houses
aided by Senator Dawes, who, by his res
olution and fidelity, defeated the attempts
of those scheming and partisan Democrats
Samuel j. Randall and Holman of lndi-
ana-whO, as leaders of the appropriation
committee of the House, repeatedly attempt
ed to coerce and embarrass the commission
by refusing necessary appropriations But
for the firmness of Senator Allison in this
regard, l believe the work of the commits
sion would have been in large measure
defeated
His earnestness in the cause of reform
has increased with the evidence of the util-
ity IF the civil service act. The admirable
civil service reform resolution of the last
Republican state convention of Iowa, the
best resolution of the kind adopted Ger
tainly in any state so far VESTS but a re-
Election of the views and consistent action
of Senator Allison ON the subject. 1t was
being prepared, and as think by him, about
the time that Mr.. Blaine was delivering that
indiscreet speech in Pennsylvania few
months ago, in which he made it equally
plain that his hostility to reform remained
as strong as it was in 1874, and that he ut
terly misconceived the late action on the
subject in Great Britain
These facts, in my view, make it certain
that Senator Allison, if nominated, would
receive most, at least, of the votes of the
reforming and more Independent elements
of the Republican party, which helped elect
Mr.. Cleveland. As between Mr. Cleveland
and Mr.. Blaine, | believe that vote would be
given to the former, though as between Mr..
Cleveland and Mr.. Allison Tor any Republi-
cam l believe the latter would receive a
considerable part of the reform vote of the
country. President Cleveland has rendered
great service to the cause of reform, which
many of the Republican journals and CON
ventions have grossly and most unjustly
misrepresented, and to which the proceed
ings of the reform league at Newport failed
to do full justice. If the issue of the next
election shall be between President Cleve-
land and Mr.. Blaine, the true records of
both on the subject, not so well known as
they should be, will be made conspicuous
before the country.
Mr. Allison is not properly designated as
a civil service reformer and ne is widely
separated from those more radical reform
ers who have been asking unreasonable
things. He has been most vigorous work
er for the Republican party in which he has
now the greatest faith. He was for sever
al years the efficient chairman of the Ma
tional Republican committee and knows all
the secrets of intense party activity. which
he estimates more highly than | do. If it
was any part of my purpose to refer to his
general fitness, by reason of his varied ex-
perience and well defined views on all the
large subjects of national policy, | should
say that on the tariff question and the finan-
cial questions especially, he holds, as on the
reform issue, that middle position which the
IF
being in the least degree a trimmer or at
all in the habit of concealing his views.
He is a rapid and tireless worker and a
clear and effective speaker. Few men
know the whole operations of the govern
ment SO well as he does. He was eight
years member of the House before enter
ing the Senate in 1873. Hehas marked ex-
ecutlve ability and most genial manners.
Oftener than any other Senator during his
term OF service, l think he has been chair
man, on the part of the Senate, of confer
ence committees with the House, the duties
of which especially demand accurate infor-
nation, clear views, cOnciliatorY manners
and frmness of will.
1t was the supreme folly of the Republi-
can leaders to abandon reform policy in
1874, and thereby enable the Democrats to
gain power on the reform issue in 1884
Can they hope to retrieve themselves under
Mr.. Blaine as a leader who was one of the
chief authors of that disaster Then
the larger part of the intelligent sentiment
which demands reasonable independence in
political action and the elevation of the pub
lie service was in the Republican ranks.
Such, l think, is still, though in less degree
the fact. The Democratic candidate in the
last election, embodying the new spirit and
comprehending the new issues, led his par
ty 10 victory no more certainly than the
Republican candidates, counting on past
glory, putting faith in bargains and manip-
ulaton, aitronting apatriotic growing sent
iment, led their party 10 defeat. The cleo
ton was decided mainly by the personality
OF the candidates and their opinions The
Democratic leaders still comprehend he Do
sitlon and their advantage Mr.. Cleveland
VIII be nominated 10y reclamation without a
dissenting vote, 1t will, as the Providence
journal has lately said, be very difficult To
beat him. Old sectional issues, adroit ma
nlpulations, and bargains with Irish Cath
olics and rumsellers will not help the Re
publicans 10 victory. Party discipline has
greatly lost in force. The character and
acts OF candidates and unqualified pledges
to great principles will be decisive. 1t is a
most significant fact that the reform candi-
date OF the Democratic party is now its
strength and hope, while the anti-reform
candidate of the Republican party is lis
weakness and perplexity. If Mr.. Cleve-
land should refuse 10 be a candidate who
would not regard the defeat of the Demo
Gratis next year as certain If Mr. Blaine